effective writing test at UofC

[calgaryrocks]

I have to write the effective writing test at the U of Calgary tomorrow...not sure what to expect.
is it pretty difficult? any suggestions?
thanks!

[JerzeeGirl]

I wrote this excuse for a cash grab back in 1995 so I may be a bit out of date but it's pretty simple if you learned how to write even halfway decently. Just a quick essay of around 1000 words or so (I think) on "How I spent my summer" sort of an easy topic....not challenging, really just a way for the UofC to make some quick cash.

[Rathji]

I didn't have to write anything like this but another guy in my faculty did. What are the conditions where you need to take it?

[calgaryrocks]

ok well hopefully its pretty easy, im not amazing at writing. maybe its because im a transfer student, but my account has a hold on it saying i have to take it in my first year at u of c otherwise i cant register for more classes....
definitly a cash grab tho, $50?? if i cant write effectively then im probably not in university...plus pretty much every program requires you to take an english class at some point

[troutman]

Originally Posted by calgaryrocks

I have to write the effective writing test at the U of Calgary tomorrow...not sure what to expect.
is it pretty difficult? any suggestions?
thanks!

You might want to begin sentences with capital letters.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by calgaryrocks

ok well hopefully its pretty easy, im not amazing at writing. maybe its because im a transfer student, but my account has a hold on it saying i have to take it in my first year at u of c otherwise i cant register for more classes....
definitly a cash grab tho, $50?? if i cant write effectively then im probably not in university...plus pretty much every program requires you to take an english class at some point

And use proper punctuation. Post on CP more, it's practice!

[flip]

Originally Posted by Rathji

I didn't have to write anything like this but another guy in my faculty did. What are the conditions where you need to take it?

I believe it was less than 85% in English 30. I may be completely wrong though. I didn't have to take it.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by flip

I believe it was less than 85% in English 30. I may be completely wrong though. I didn't have to take it.

I probably bypassed it seeing as I was a mature student then. Even with me catching my English 30 teacher at the strippers at the T&C during a spare I only managed to get ~ 75% I think.

[Kipper is King]

Originally Posted by flip

I believe it was less than 85% in English 30. I may be completely wrong though. I didn't have to take it.

I don't think it would be that high. I could be wrong though.

I took AP English, so I didn't need to write that exam. But, with any standardized test like that, the idea is just to make sure you are up to snuff. Know how to properly construct a sentence, throw in some figurative language if appropriate and if you're able to, and you're done! Budda bing, budda boom!

[fredr123]

University of Calgary Effective Writing Requirement: http://www.ucalgary.ca/pubs/calendar...how/How_EA.htm

Exemptions from the test are granted to students who meet one of the following criteria:

1. A mark of 75% or better on the Alberta English Language Arts 30-1 Diploma Examination (not the blended grade).

2. A mark of 80% or equivalent letter grade or better in Alberta English Language Arts 30-1 (blended mark) or equivalent course from other Canadian provinces.

There are nine other exemptions.

To pass the test, students are required to write an essay of about 400 words on one of four general topics in which they demonstrate university entrance-level competence in their ability to express ideas clearly, logically, and grammatically in well-developed paragraphs, within an effectively structured essay.

The fee to write the test is $50.

[Pagal4321]

Write like you are speaking to a 2 year old. No fancy words or anything.

Just spell words right and use proper grammar and you'll get that marginal pass that we all love.

[lambeburger]

I wrote it in my first year. I was kind of in a hurry to get a Stamps game that same night and if I can recall correctly, I started writing about a movie I saw earlier that week with Charlie Sheen in it or something. By my standards I wrote a terrible essay but I passed it.

[Jayems]

Originally Posted by calgaryrocks

ok well hopefully its pretty easy, im not amazing at writing. maybe its because im a transfer student, but my account has a hold on it saying i have to take it in my first year at u of c otherwise i cant register for more classes....
definitly a cash grab tho, $50?? if i cant write effectively then im probably not in university...plus pretty much every program requires you to take an english class at some point

Here are some free tips:

Originally Posted by calgaryrocks

Ok. Well hopefully its pretty easy, because I'm not amazing at writing. Maybe its because I'm a transfer student and my account has a hold on it saying I have to take it in my first year at the University of Calgary (nitpicky) otherwise I can't register for more classes.

Definitely a cash grab, but $50? If I can't write effectively, then I'm probably not in university. Plus, pretty much every program requires you to take an English class at some point.

[REDVAN]

I never had to take this test, since I achieved a high enough grade in English during high school. However, my brother did have to take the test, and it is a cash grab, seeing as how he can speak and write English just fine.

I understand the point of it though, since English is the language of most instruction, and the official language of the university. If you don't speak English, you're probably not at university.

Make sure to use the proper to/too/two and there/their/they're, and you'll be fine. Oh, and learn to use capitals and punctuation properly, and you'll really have no worries.

[fredr123]

Introductory paragraph - Include your thesis statement (what your essay is about, the point you are arguing), introduce three points to support your argument, finish with a concluding sentence that sums things up

Three body paragraphs - One paragraph for each of your points. Begin with an introductory sentence for the paragraph. Develop your idea with a few sentences and finish with a concluding sentence that sums up your point for that paragraph.

Conclusion - Final paragraph restates your thesis and the three points you made earlier. Finish strong with a concluding sentence that sums everything up.

[Kipper is King]

Nd dnt ryt lyk ur txting!

[Thunderball]

Ah yes, the effective writing requirement...

I remember being faced with this waste of time, since I got screwed over royal in English 30. My one english teacher didn't like me at all, or my take on The Wars (despite solid and verified research) and gave me a 50 on it the last day of class, so I couldn't fight it... that dropped me from a 85 to a 79. Then I didn't do so great on the diploma and got a 74. I appealed it, and they rejected my appeal for the one extra percent and dropped my grade to a 73 on the diploma.

So I just made sure my first option was an English course, got either a B+ or A-, and got exempted that way.

[Boblobla]

I marginally passed my effective writing test at the U of C. Looking back I wonder if that qualified me for some ESL scholarships...

[flip]

Originally Posted by Jayems

Here are some free tips:Quote:
Originally Posted by calgaryrocks
Ok. Well hopefully its pretty easy, because I'm not amazing at writing. Maybe its because I'm a transfer student and my account has a hold on it saying I have to take it in my first year at the University of Calgary (nitpicky) otherwise I can't register for more classes.

Definitely a cash grab, but $50? If I can't write effectively, then I'm probably not in university. Plus, pretty much every program requires you to take an English class at some point.

And here are the mistakes you made

Originally Posted by calgaryrocks
Ok. Well hopefully it's pretty easy, because I'm not amazing at writing. Maybe it's because I'm a transfer student and my account has a hold on it saying I have to take it in my first year at the University of Calgary(nitpicky) otherwise I can't register for more classes.

Definitely a cash grab, but $50? If I can't write effectively, then I'm probably not in university. Plus, pretty much every program requires you to take an English class at some point.

[sureLoss]

I didn't have to write it but I had a few friends that had to write it twice.

The trick, apparently, was to write very simple sentences (as mentioned previously) and not give the examiners anything to rip apart.